Living Wisely With Black Bears

Including tips on behavior when encountering a bear and bear-proof trash containers.

Don't leave garbage cans outside. It may be trash to you, but it's a smorgasbord to bears. Instead, store your trash in a secure building, such as a garage, and keep smelly items wrapped in plastic in the freezer until pick-up day.

Photo Courtesy Billia

Western black bears often have brown, cinnamon and blonde color phases.

Photo Courtesy Billea

You moved out of the city to get away from disturbances and crime. Now instead of worrying about unruly teenagers and vandals, you have 300-pound prowlers in the form of black bears, Ursus americanus, who don't understand property lines.

Photo Courtesy Billea

Feeding bears, whether intentionally or unintentionally, will teach them to associate food with people.

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